CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN

a voluntary organization for cultivating civic beauty in communities. It aims to promote and perpetuate artistic improvements in cities and towns, to preserve landscapes, and develop outdoor art. The a ociation dates from 1904 and is a combination of two early societies having a similar object—the American League for Civic Improvement and the American Park and Outdoor Art A ociation. It'is an outgrowth of local efforts by various towns in improving their appearance. These initial steps at cultivating civic beauty resulted in the larger movement organized through the a ociation and reaching communities at large. The fruit of extensive propaganda aiming at a nation-wide realization of civic art and beauty was the adoption by many cities of comprehensive city plans, the enlisting of the services of landscape architects, and systematic urban development on a basis of artistic coordination. The Society’s efforts have been directed to the creation and maintenance of city park areas, boulevards, playgrounds for children and recreational areas for adults, and to the beautifying of water fronts, the elimination of needle smoke, noise and disfiguring billboards, and to country planning, or the beautifying of rural districts. The a ociation’s activities for preserving scenery was succe fully reflected in the extension of the American National Park system and in the protection of Niagara Falls from spoliation by commercial interests. 'The Society meets annually and has its headquarters at Washington, D,O